Mon July 18, 2011

In case you haven't noticed, it is hot, hot, hot outside and Central Texas is in need of some showers. Late July and early August are normally the driest and hottest parts of the summer, so the chance of rain is slim.

As space shuttle Atlantis orbits the Earth on NASA's last shuttle mission, it's worth remembering that key parts of this high-tech spaceship were handmade by people back here on Earth.

Five years ago, NPR profiled a few of the workers who make pieces of NASA's shuttles, using everyday tools like sewing needles and X-ACTO knives. With the shuttle program ending, NPR revisited those people to see how their lives are changing now that the shuttles will no longer need them.

An arraignment date has been set for the accused Fort Hood shooter. Major Nidal Hasan’s will hear the charges filed against him for his general court-martial on Wednesday afternoon on post. At the proceeding Hasan will be asked to enter a plea.

Texas

1:32 pm

Thu July 14, 2011

As Texas faces one of the driest years on record, a team of people with a stake in water from the Highland Lakes have agreed on a plan for Lower Colorado River Authority's water management over the next 10 years.

Farmers, business owners, environmentalists, power plant developers and homeowners have agreed on a set of changes for the next Lower Colorado River Authority Water Management Plan.

The committee finalized its suggested plan Tuesday. The LCRA board will vote on it at their August 24 meeting. Their approval would send it to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a final decision.

Texas

9:58 am

Thu July 14, 2011

The tiny East Texas town of Alto made national headlines this summer when it furloughed its five-man police department in an effort to save money in this ailing economy.

But Alto is hardly the only Texas community struggling to fund public safety amid falling tax revenues and shrinking state and federal aid. Most cities aren't taking the drastic measures Alto did, but they're finding other ways to scale back costs, said Bennett Sandlin, executive director of the Texas Municipal League.

Texas

5:23 pm

Thu July 7, 2011

Texas is the 12th most obese state in the U.S., according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2011. The report is from the non-profit research group Trust for America’s Health.

Texas has been slowly creeping up the list for the past two years, ranking 14th in 2009, and 13th in 2010. The obesity rate in Texas for adults is 30 percent. Fifteen years ago that number was 16 percent.

Texas

3:57 pm

Thu July 7, 2011

Many Democrats are crowing that the 82nd Legislature will go down as one in which, despite the "emergency" push for sanctuary cities legislation, nothing emerged from the Capitol that waill substantially alter the way immigration laws are enforced.

NASA

3:54 pm

Thu July 7, 2011

American astronaut Leroy Chiao gives a thumbs up during the ride from a suit-up facility in Kazakhstan in 2004. The mission took Chiao to the International Space Station and was his last trip into space before retiring in 2005.

There are 30 years between the bookends of the first and last NASA space shuttle flights. In those three decades, the shuttles Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour flew well over 100 missions.

But this summer, the program draws to a close to allow the space agency to dedicate more funding and energy to exploring the farther reaches of space. In the process, NASA hands over greater responsibility to private space companies.

Army Major Nidal Hasan, the psychiatrist accused in the 2009 Fort Hood shootings, will face trial before a general court-martial.

The post's commander, Lieutenant General Donald Campbell, officially announced his decision this morning. In the order for court-martial trial, Campbell authorized the death penalty as a potential punishment.

Hasan is accused of opening fire at Fort Hood on the afternoon of November 5, 2009. 13 people were killed in the gunfire. 31 others were wounded. Hasan was shot and wounded by police officers. He was paralyzed from the waist down.

Tue July 5, 2011

Updated 4:40 pm: The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has voted to deny a request for reprieve from death row inmate Humberto Leal.

From the AP:

The panel voted 4-1 Tuesday to deny a reprieve request for 38-year-old Humberto. The same board refused by a 5-0 vote to commute Leal's death sentence to life in prison.

Leal's attorney issued a statement on the denial this afternoon.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles’ recommendation against a reprieve for Humberto Leal ignores the views of the U.S. government and Solicitor General, former diplomats, military leaders, judges and prosecutors, and organizations representing Americans abroad who believe that Mr. Leal’s execution would threaten the safety of Americans overseas and undermine the international interests of the United States.

Earlier: State lawyers are asking the U.S. Supreme Court not to stop the execution of Mexican national Humberto Leal. The 38-year-old is scheduled to be killed on Thursday in Huntsville for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old San Antonio girl in 1994.

As KUT reported last week, Leal’s lawyers are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court on the basis that Leal’s execution would violate an international treaty.

That’s because Leal was not made aware of his right to contact the Mexican consulate when he was arrested, a right guaranteed by the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. His lawyers argue he may never have been convicted, or sentenced to death, if he had access to legal help.

Texas Fireworks

10:38 am

Mon July 4, 2011

It’s pretty well-known by now that burn bans across the state caused bans on personal fireworks and canceled numerous public fireworks shows. But that hasn’t stopped some towns from still putting on public fireworks displays.

President Obama has declared 45 Texas counties to be federally recognized disaster areas, following the wildfires that scorched millions of acres of land from April 6 to May 3, 2011. The president had previously denied the declaration, angering Texas Governor Rick Perry, who criticized the decision.

The declaration means that the counties can now avail themselves of federal aid.

The declaration comes as Texans endure a continuing drought and brace for the possibility of more fires from outdoor cooking and fireworks this 4th of July weekend.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs paid Anthony Graves $1.45 million today, to compensate for his 18 years of wrongful imprisonment. Graves was originally convicted of the 1992 killing a 45-year-old grandmother and five children. He served 12 years of his sentence on death row.

Texas

10:12 am

Wed June 29, 2011

The number of places where you can catch Independence Day fireworks in Central Texas is quickly shrinking. Cedar Park is the latest municipality to announce it is canceling its patriotic pyrotechnics display because of dry conditions and the potential for high winds.